Lathing apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. OPPBNHEIMBR.

v LATHING APPARATUS.

No. 308,850. Patented Deo.`2, 1884.

N. PETERS. Pham-Umagmpnnr. wnshingmn D4 C.

(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. OPPBNHEIMER.

LATHING APPARATUS.

No. 308,850. Patented Deo. 2, 1884.

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PATENT @ri-ica JAMES OPPENHEIMER, OF SHENANDOAH, IOVA.

LATI-UNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,850, dated December2, 1884.

Application filed May 1, 18S-l.

` To all whom t may concern,.-

` Shenandoah, in the county of Page and State of Iowa, have invented newand useful Improvements in Lathing Apparatus, of which the following isa specication.

My invention relates to devices for attaching a break .7 of laths at onetime to soantling or to joistsg and the objects of my improvements are,iirst, to provide a construction whereby laths of different widths maybe racked for the break in such manner as that the openings or spacesbetween them shall be the same or son early the same as to satisfytheconditions of plaster-ing; second, to provide a :means for correctingbowed laths or laths warped in the direction of their length; and,third, to simplify and generally improve the construction of apparatushaving my objects in view. These objects I accomplish by means of theapparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is arear elevation showing attachment to wall-studs. Fig. 2 is the `converseof Fig. 1 looking from the front; Fig. 3, a View showing t-he apparatusat rest in position to receive the break of laths; and Figs. et, 5, 6,7, and 8, details of construction whose character is indicated bylet-ters of reference.

There is a frame, A A A, the horizontal top bar being designated by theletter A, and the vertical bars thereof bythe letters AA,which latterserve as seats for the equalizing-holders B for the laths; and withinthe top bar, A, at each end there are slots a a for the play andmovement of actuating-levers G, connected to said equalizing-holders B,as will be presently described. rIhese slots may be mortised in theframe or may be open recesses covered by inetallic straps b b; but inany case the vertical play and movement of the levers C is limited by astop or other detent, c, thereon above the strap or above the slot.

To control and ascertain the position of levers C, they are provided ontheir upper ends at a point within the slot of bar A witha rack ofteeth, d, or equivalent device, engaging when required with a catch-pin,e, Fig. 4, or its equivalent in the interior side wall of said slot a,the levers G being held to their position of engagement by springs D,fastened thereto (No model.)

by pin s, and to the cross-bar A, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon Athe bars A Aare bearing elamp-stops'f f, near the bar A, which are for the receptionand grip of the top one of the eight laths of the break between thefirst of the series of equalizing holding-clamps, it being necessary tohave a iiXed bearing-surface for the laths between the movableequalizers both at top and bottom. At thebottom Iprovide for suchservice-bearing clamp-stop g g, which are in the instance shown curvedarms, for a purpose to be hereinafter stated.

It should be stated that the levers provided with the racks forengagement with the stops inthe slots of the main bar A may be readilydisengaged from their positions of holding `by a hand or thumb movement,pushing them therein toward the vertical bars. Upon the levers C arepivoted seven movable equalizing arms or holders,B,by pivots i, asshown. Thesearms B are loosely pivoted and rest upon pins 7c, insertedin the vertical bars A A of the frame. The purpose of these pins k is toprevent the bunching of the loosely-pivoted arms and to preserve them insuch relative separation as to readily receive the laths. For suchreception the said arms are formed with grips Z l, which in the instanceshown are S-shaped projections at right angles to said arms, so formedas that their edges may slightly bite the lath to hold it firmly betweenthem. These grips Z serve of course as rests for the laths, and project,as shown in Fig. 6, atV right angles to the arms with which lthey arecast or formed.

For the purpose or" attaching the rack to the scantling of a house wallor ceiling, I provide driving set-spikes m m in the top bar, A, of

the frame at suitable distances apart to engage with the scantling as inposition, and secure them by leather or rubber' clamp-washers a througha slot, o, in the said bar A, so that they may be moved to accommodatethe frame to the distance of the scantling or studding, as -is wellunderstood in carpentry.

Depending from the bar A is a guide-bar, F, `provided with a series ofpins, p, at such distanceapartas to receive the laths and permit them tobear down and up. The function of this is to correct what are calledbowed laths7-that is to say, laths which are bowed in the direction oftheir length. This depending arm F is midway between the bars A A of theframe. I consider it a desirable though not absolutely necessaryfeature. The lower bearing-stops, g, are curved outwardly and downwardlyfrom the vertical bars A of the frame for the purpose of resting uponthe top lath of the last break, and particularly so curved for a betterhold when the rack is applied to the ceiling.

It will be seen that by my improved construction the laths, no matterwhat may be their width, (and it is well understood th at laths arefrequently of different widths,) will have beenproperly spaced and havethe same distance between each lath. This is a matter almost necessaryfor theplasterer, as those skilled in the art understand. Itisaccomplished by simply pressing the levers to operate theequaliZing-arins and assuring them by the spring, rack, or ratchet andpin of the frame and levers, as above set forth. Of course, in order tomake the lever C operate its equalizing-arnis it must be provided at itslower end with a bearing connecting-lilik, M, joined with the lowerequalizing-arm, B, as shown in Figs. 2 and S.

I claiml; The combination, in a lathing apparatus, of the frame A A A',with levers C C, and the carrying, holding, and equalizing armsB for thelaths, pivoted only to said levers, top and bottom bearingclainping-stops,f and g,on said frame, means for controlling themovement of said levers and for arresting them at an ascertained point,and with means for wall attachment, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in alathing apparatus, of the frame consisting ofthe horizontal bar A and the depending vertical bars A A, the

former having the slots a a and catch-pins e e therein, and the latterhaving holding-pins k 7c thereon, with the levers C C, each providedwith a catch-rack, d, and the carrying, hold` ing, and equalizing arms Bfor the laths, pivoted at one end only to said levers, the top andbottom bearing-stops, f and g, on the vertical bars A, springs D, anddetents c, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. The combination, in a lathing apparatus, of the frame A A A, withlevers C C, the carrying, holding, and equalizing arms B for thelaths,and a middle depending bar, F, provided with correcting-pins p for bowedlaths, substantially as described.

4. rlhe combination, with the frame, of the levers C C, and theequalizing-arms B, pivoted to said levers at one end only, havingsupportinggrips Z at their free ends, bearingstops j' and g, and means,substantially such as deseribed,\vheieby the levers are held when thelaths are properly set and gripped.

5. In a lathing apparatus, the equalizing holding device for the breakof laths, consisting of the levers C C, the pivoted arm B, havingright-angled supporting-grips Z, adapted to bite upon and hold the lathsabove and below said grips, fixed stops f g, between which the grips arearranged to operate, and the holding-rack d, and pin e, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES OPPENHEIMER.

vWitnesses:

A. E. H. JoHNsoN, J. XV. HAMILTON JoriNsoN.

